The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program (AAIP), the Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE). The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Rural Entrepreneur – Overview
The Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE) is one of Alberta’s PNP streams that is dedicated to international entrepreneurs who would like to establish or buy a business in a rural community in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the RE, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada.
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The RE has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the AAIP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 175 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the AAIP selects candidates with the highest scores.
Rural Entrepreneur – Eligibility
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE), the proposed business must align with the following general requirements:
- The purpose must be to make a profit from active or earned income, not passive income, through the sale of goods and/or services.
- The proposed business must comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation (including Alberta labour laws).
- The proposed business must comply with applicable trade certification requirements in Alberta.
- The proposed business must have a physical place of business in Alberta at all times.
- For franchises, the ownership requirements and all other program criteria are the same as for other businesses. Candidates must also provide evidence that they have received support from the master franchisor to operate a franchise location.
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the GE:
- Any business in contravention of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations
- Businesses without a value-add economic component, including:
- pay day loan, cheque cashing and related businesses
- businesses trading in used goods
- Businesses that would be considered passive investment and/or lack active management, including
- property rental, investment and leasing activities
- real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
- coin-operated businesses, including laundromats and car wash operations
- Project based or seasonal businesses
- Home-based businesses, including:
- businesses that are not zoned for commercial or industrial operations
- bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses
- Businesses that are part of a succession plan. This includes businesses that:
- are owned/operated by a close relative of the candidate
- were previously owned/operated by a current or former AAIP entrepreneur stream candidates/nominees within the past 4 years
- have changed ownership in the past 3 years prior to RE application
- Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
- Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the AAIP and the Government of Alberta into disrepute.
List of Participating Communities
Candidates interested in a specific rural Alberta community should connect with the community contact person to discuss their business proposal and schedule an exploratory visit. If the rural community is not participating in this stream yet, you can ask them to contact the AAIP to become a participating community.
Below is the list of current participating communities and their enrolment date:
- City of Brooks – May 13, 2022
- City of Camrose – May 13, 2022
- City of Cold Lake – June 19, 2023
- City of Grande Prairie – November 25, 2022
- City of Lacombe – May 13, 2022
- City of Wetaskiwin – March 14, 2023
- County of Camrose – December 12, 2022
- County of Wetaskiwin – March 24, 2022
- Flagstaff County – January 31, 2023
- Foothills County – May 13, 2026
- Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo – January 31, 2023
- Lac La Biche County – October 6, 2023
- Lac Ste. Anne County – June 19, 2023
- Lacombe County – May 13, 2022
- Montana First Nation – April 24, 2024
- Municipal District of Peace – No. 135 – October 5, 2022
- Municipal District of Smoky River – No. 130 – October 5, 2022
- Municipal District of Spirit River – No. 133 – October 5, 2022
- Red Deer County – March 24, 2022
- Special Areas Board – Special Areas 2, 3 and 4 – September 12, 2025
- Town of Blackfalds – May 13, 2022
- Town of Bonnyville – June 14, 2022
- Town of Bow Island – December 9, 2024
- Town of Coronation – August 14, 2025
- Town of Claresholm – March 14, 2023
- Town of Didsbury – March 24, 2022
- Town of Falher – October 5, 2022
- Town of Fort Macleod – March 10, 2026
- Town of Fox Creek – June 19, 2024
- Town of Grimshaw – October 5, 2022
- Town of High Prairie – July 20, 2022
- Town of Innisfail – August 2, 2022
- Town of McLennan – October 5, 2022
- Town of Mundare – October 30, 2024
- Town of Olds – March 24, 2022
- Town of Oyen – November 25, 2022
- Town of Peace River – June 19, 2023
- Town of Penhold – June 30, 2023
- Town of Ponoka – March 18, 2025
- Town of Provost – July 20, 2022
- Town of Sedgewick – May 13, 2022
- Town of Slave Lake – June 14, 2022
- Town of Stettler – May 13, 2022
- Town of Sundre – June 14, 2022
- Town of Sylvan Lake – July 20, 2022
- Town of Trochu – March 24, 2022
- Town of Two Hills – October 19, 2023
- Town of Viking – March 21, 2025
- Town of Wainwright – May 13, 2022
- Town of Westlock – May 28, 2025
- Town of Whitecourt – October 5, 2022
- Village of Acme – October 5, 2022
- Village of Berwyn – October 5, 2022
- Village of Chauvin – October 27, 2024
- Village of Clive – March 24, 2022
- Village of Consort – November 25, 2022
- Village of Donnelly – October 5, 2022
- Village of Forestburg – July 20, 2022
- Village of Girouxville – October 5, 2022
- Village of Vilna – April 24, 2024
Minimum criteria and RE 175-Point Grid
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the RE stream. You need to:
- have either a minimum 3 years of experience as an active business owner-manager or a minimum of 4 years of experience as a senior manager within the past 10 years,
- have completed at least the equivalent of a high school studies,
- have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each English or French language skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking,
- have a net worth of $300,000 and invest at least $100,000,
- have a Community Support Letter from a participating rural Alberta community,
- own at least 51% of the business if it is a new business, or have 100% ownership of the business if you are purchasing an already established business (business succession), and
- create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident if it is new business (no requirements for business succession).
Other criteria are explained in detail below in the RE 175-point grid.
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an invitation to apply from the AAIP, which will select the highest scores.
There are 5 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
| RE 175-point grid | Maximum Points |
|---|---|
| Factor 1 – Rural Factor | 25 |
| Sub-Factor 1.1 – Business location | 25 |
| Factor 2 – Business Experience Factor | 20 |
| Sub-Factor 2.1 – Business owner-manager or senior management experience within the past 10 years | 20 |
| Factor 3 – Business Establishment Factors | 60 |
| Sub-Factor 3.1 – Total Business Investment | 20 |
| Sub-Factor 3.2 – Net Worth | 10 |
| Sub-Factor 3.3 – Job Creation | 20 |
| Sub-Factor 3.4 – Business Successions | 10 |
| Factor 4 – Human Capital Factors | 35 |
| Sub-Factor 4.1 – Language Proficiency | 25 |
| Sub-Factor 4.2 – Education | 10 |
| Factor 5 – Adaptability Factors | 35 |
| Sub-Factor 5.1 – Canada/Alberta experience from work or studies within the past 10 years | 15 |
| Sub-Factor 5.2 – Relative(s) in the community or Alberta | 10 |
| Sub-Factor 5.3 – Spouse’s/Common-law partner’s Language Proficiency or Education | 5 |
| Sub-Factor 5.4 – Age | 5 |
| Total | 175 |
Factor 1 – Rural factor (Max 25 points):
Sub-Factor 1.1 – Business location (Max 25 points):
You can score more points if your business is established in a rural community with less population.
This is a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 1.1 – Business location | Points |
|---|---|
| Tier 1: Less than 10,000 population | 25 |
| Tier 2: 10,001 to 50,000 population | 17 |
| Tier 3: 50,001 to 99,999 population | 10 |
| 100,000 population or more | Not eligible |
Factor 2 – Business Experience Factor (Max 20 points):
Sub-Factor 2.1 – Sub-Factor 2.1 – Business owner-manager or senior management experience within the past 10 years (Max 20 points):
You can score points if you have more business owner/management experience.
This is a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 2.1 – Business owner-manager or senior management experience within the past 10 years | Points |
|---|---|
| Business owner-manager | Less than 3 years OR Senior manager | Less than 4 years | Not eligible |
| Business owner-manager | 3 to less than 4 years OR Senior manager | 4 to less than 5 years | 12 |
| Business owner-manager | 4 to less than 5 years OR Senior manager | 5 to less than 6 years | 16 |
| Business owner-manager | 5 or more years OR Senior manager | 6 or more years | 20 |
Factor 3 – Business Establishment Factors (Max 60 points):
Sub-Factor 3.1 – Total Business Investment (Max 20 points):
You can score points depending on your total investment.
This is a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 3.1 – Total Business Investment | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than $100,000 | Not eligible |
| $100,000 to $399,999 | 5 |
| $400,000 to $599,999 | 10 |
| $600,000 to $799,999 | 15 |
| $800,000 or more | 20 |
Sub-Factor 3.2 – Net Worth (Max 10 points):
You can score points depending on your net worth.
This is a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 3.2 – Net Worth | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than $300,000 | Not eligible |
| $300,000 to $399,999 | 6 |
| $400,000 to $499,999 | 8 |
| $500,000 or more | 10 |
Sub-Factor 3.3 – Job Creation (Max 20 points):
You can score points depending on the number of jobs the business will create.
This is a mandatory requirement unless it is a business succession.
| Sub-Factor 3.3 – Job Creation | Points |
|---|---|
| No job creation | Not eligible unless it is a business succession |
| 1 job | 4 |
| 2 jobs | 8 |
| 3 jobs | 12 |
| 4 jobs | 16 |
| 5 jobs or more | 20 |
Sub-Factor 3.4 – Business Successions (Max 10 points):
You can score points if your proposed business is business succession (investment to take over an existing business).
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 3.4 – Business Successions | Points |
|---|---|
| Investment to take over an existing business | 10 |
Factor 4 – Human Capital Factors (Max 35 points):
Sub-Factor 4.1 – Language Proficiency (Max 25 points):
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 4 for each language skill, either in French or in English. You can score more points if your CLB score for each language skill is above 4.
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you have less than CLB4 in one of the language skills.
| Sub-Factor 4.1 – Language Proficiency | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than CLB4 | Not eligible |
| CLB4 | 15 |
| CLB5 | 20 |
| CLB6 or more | 25 |
Sub-Factor 4.2 – Education (Max 10 points):
You must have completed at least a high school diploma or its equivalent (see Educational Credential Assessment).
| Sub-Factor 4.2 – Education | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than high-school education | Not eligible |
| High-school Diploma equivalent to Canadian standards | 4 |
| Associate Degree or Diploma (at least one year) | 7 |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 10 |
Factor 5 – Adaptability Factors (Max 35 points):
Sub-Factor 5.1 – Canada/Alberta experience from work or studies within the past 10 years (Max 15 points):
You can only earn a maximum of 15 points in this factor, even if you can score more than 15 points.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 5.1 – Canada/Alberta experience from work or studies within the past 10 years | Points |
|---|---|
| In rural Alberta | 12 to 24 months | 10 |
| In rural Alberta | More than 24 months | 15 |
| In non-rural Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area) | 18 to 30 months | 6 |
| In non-rural Alberta (Calgary and Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area) | More than 30 months | 10 |
| In Canada | 24 to 36 months | 3 |
| In Canada | More than 36 months | 5 |
Sub-Factor 5.2 – Relative(s) in the community or Alberta (Max 10 points):
You can earn points if you have relatives currently living full-time in Alberta. Relatives are defined as father, step-father, mother, step-mother, child, step-child, sister, step-sister, brother, step-brother of candidate or spouse/common-law partner.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 5.2 – Relative(s) in the community or Alberta | Points |
|---|---|
| You or spouse/partner have a relative living in Alberta | 5 |
| You or spouse/partner have a relative living in the community where you intend to reside and operate a business | 10 |
Sub-Factor 5.3 – Spouse/Partner characteristics (Max 5 points):
You can only earn a maximum of 5 points in this factor, even if you can score more than 5 points.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 5.3 – Spouse/Common-law characteristics | Points |
|---|---|
| Language proficiency | CLB4 | 3 |
| Language proficiency | CLB5 | 4 |
| Language proficiency | CLB6 or higher | 5 |
| Education | Certificate, Associate Degree or Diploma (at least one year) | 3 |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree or higher | 5 |
Sub-Factor 5.4 – Age ( Max 5 points):
You will earn no points if you have less than 21 years OR if you have more than 49 years.
This is not a mandatory requirement.
| Sub-Factor 5.4 – Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 21 to 49 years old | 5 |
Rural Entrepreneur – Application Process
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the Rural Entrepreneur stream (RE):
Step 1:
- A candidate should schedule an exploratory visit in a rural community with their business contact. If the community deems that you and your business proposal is a benefit to the community, a Community Support Letter will be issued, and the community will endorse your Business Proposal Summary.
- A candidate must register an Expression of Interest (EOI), meaning filling in forms, and uploading supporting documentation, which include the Community Support Letter, the RE Business Proposal Summary, the Net Worth worksheet, etc. This allows them to be included in the pool of candidates and be assigned a score out of 175 points based on their specific factors. The AAIP will review and score the EOI within 30 days.
- If selected by the AAIP, the candidate must submit within 90 days a Business Application to the AAIP, which includes a Business Plan Evaluation Report and a Qualified Service Provider Report to assess the candidate’s net worth and business investment by an approved service provider (list below).
- If the processing of the candidate’s application is successful, they must sign a Business Performance Agreement whereby they commit to achieving their intended investment. The agreement usually contains (but is not limited to) (i) investment amounts and timelines for commitments, (ii) number and types of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, (iii) mandatory business milestones and achievements, etc.
- Once all parties have signed the Business Performance Agreement, the AAIP will provide a Business Application Approval Letter and a 205(a) Letter of Support.
Step 2:
- Upon receiving the 205(a) Letter of Support, the candidate must submit their application for a work permit to IRCC within 3 months. The candidate must arrive in Alberta within 12 months of receiving the Business Application Approval Letter and is required to reside in Alberta and meet the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement.
- Candidates must submit an Arrival Report to the AAIP within 30 days of the date that appears as the “date issued” on their work permit, and submit a Business Progress Report every 6 months.
- Once the candidate has satisfied the conditions of their Business Performance Agreement, they can submit a Final Report for AAIP Nomination. If successful, candidates will be issued a provincial nomination by the AAIP.
- The candidate must finally apply for permanent residence to IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination. The candidate needs to apply online to IRCC, and include documents received by the AAIP.
Please note that international entrepreneurs who currently own and operate a business in Alberta and are eligible for this stream can still apply but the established business must have operated in Alberta for at least one year. Instead of being issued a Business Performance Agreement, the AAIP will directly issue the candidate a nomination certificate. They are only required to operate their business in Alberta while they go through the permanent residence application process with IRCC.
Approved Service Providers - Business Plan Evaluation Report
KPMG LLP
3100, 2005 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4B9
Telephone: 416-777-3887
Fax: 403-691-8008
Website: www.kpmg.ca
Email: ainpverification@kpmg.ca
MNP LLP
Suite 1600, MNP Tower
10235 101 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3G1
Telephone: 587-441-6021
Fax: 403-269-8450
Website: www.mnp.ca/en/services/enterprise-risk/provincial-nominee-program/alberta
Email: ainp-bp@mnp.ca
Approved Service Providers - Qualified Service Provider Report
Grant Thornton LLP
1701 Scotia Place 2, 10060 Jasper Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3R8
Telephone: 780-422-7114
Fax: 780-426-3208
Website: www.grantthornton.ca
Email: abpnp@ca.gt.com
KPMG LLP
3100, 2005 5 Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 4B9
Telephone: 416-777-3887
Fax: 403-691-8008
Website: www.kpmg.ca
Email: ainpverification@kpmg.ca
MNP LLP
Suite 1600, MNP Tower
10235 101 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3G1
Telephone: 587-441-6021
Fax: 403-269-8450
Website: www.mnp.ca/en/services/enterprise-risk/provincial-nominee-program/alberta
Email: ainp-bp@mnp.ca
Rural Entrepreneur – Application Fees
The fee for this stream is quite expensive, one of the most expensive in all other Provincial Nominee Programs. It is set at 3,500 CAD. It can only be paid by a credit or debit card. Application fees are non-refundable.
An additional 200 CAD fee is required for the AAIP for assess the expression of interest.
The fees associated with obtaining and preparing the required documents such as the Business Plan Evaluation Report and the Qualified Service Provider Report are not included in the application fees.
Rural Entrepreneur – Processing Times
As of June 3, 2026
Rural Entrepreneur Stream approximate average processing times: 4 months
All Entrepreneurs streams
- Number of applications in the queue : 251
- The AAIP is assessing Business applications upon receipt
- Number of allocations issued in 2026 to date: Less than 17
- Number of total nominations for 2026 (total allocation): 90
